[SHOT 2020] Arsenal's New AK-20 Series of Rifles

One of the key features of the AK-20 is the free-floated handguard system. The handguard consists of top and bottom portions. The top section covers the new gas tube and provides a top Picatinny rail that starts at the gas block and extends back over the top cover of the receiver. That rearward rail protrusion still allows using standard top covers and does not interfere with the disassembly process. Apparently, the top section is fixed via a barrel nut and the lower handguard is hung underneath the top section and also fixed on the barrel nut. The result of such design is that the handguard does not come in contact with the barrel thus free-floating it.

The adjustment plug has no retention mechanism, however, it feels like it is snug enough not to unintentionally change the setting when being dropped or snagging on something, yet it is easy enough to rotate by hand. In case if the gas block became stubborn (e.g. due to carbon buildup) or too hot but you need to change the setting, there is a hole in the gas block plug that will allow you using a cartridge to get some leverage and isolation. The gas block plug is removable allowing access to the gas tube for cleaning. By the way, shotgun brushes work perfectly for cleaning such permanently or semi-permanently attached gas tubes.

In April of 2020, the company will start selling the custom shop versions of these rifles which images you see in this article. These will be limited edition guns with only 50 to 200 made depending on the configuration. All the parts of the custom shop guns will be milled and the rifles will be shipped with the aluminum lower handguards shown in the pictures. The MSRPs of these custom shop guns will be from $1,999 to $2,650. Later, at the end of the year, the production AK-20 rifles will be released both in milled and stamped receiver options. Some parts of the production guns will be cast then machined to decrease the cost of manufacturing. Now, the cast parts will be those that are actually cast in original AKs too (e.g. gas blocks). All the critical parts (bolt, bolt carrier and trunnions) will be milled out of forgings. In other words, every part that is supposed to be forged will be forged. The production guns will come with Arsenal’s new polymer lower handguards shown below. The company will also introduce a new stock and a brace. The prices of the production guns are yet to be determined. Arsenal notes that there won’t be any retrofit AK-20 kits available separately.